From direct pressure to dis-invite speakers like the Dalai Lama to on-campus student organizations supposedly acting as spies for the government on Chinese students to political conditions on research collaboration between universities, intimidation of US professors who speak out on certain topics…is this a real concern? For all, for universities that financially rely on large numbers of Chinese students?
A recent Wilson Center report says yes it’s a concern. But also cautions that this may affect perceptions of Chinese students as a whole, perhaps especially against the current backdrop of trade war, xenophobia, etc.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/09/12/wilson-center-releases-study-chinas-influence-and-interference-us-higher-ed
It is both a real concern and overblown.
When in college, I was among one of the earliest groups of Americans allowed into China as a tourist. I also studied in the New Territories. Additionally, I did a brief (one month) study tour of the Soviet Union (and dealt directly with the KGB–their choice, not mine). I also briefly went behind the Iron Curtain into Eastern Europe and witnessed the secret police whisk away a college aged girl who had communicated with me in what is now the Czech Republic.
My experiences noted above are relevant because I understand that the impossible has come to realization.
Give it time as getting Chinese, Russian & Eastern European students exposed to American concepts of liberty & freedom will yield far greater dividends then the cost a few stolen intellectual research papers.
As for surveillance & intimidation of Chinese students & scholars on US soil, it is not ideal, but it too should yield positive results for the US by furthering our ideals as these students & professors will know what real freedom means & are constantly reminded of what needs to change in their home countries.